WRVD377

Understood. and thanks for the Cell as I have not even looked at that yet. Good to know to ignore.

Well after all that heated conversation.... Couldn't a person get a portable/desk scanner for listening to radio traffic over many ranges and avoid the TX and part this and part that issues? Most newer people have no Idea which mhz / khz are for what. Even this newbie only knows enough to not know if an Icom IC-FR4100 UHF Repeater 3302477 (Marine) Ebay should even be touched, ignore it's from India and that potential issue. Let's not get into the 26 Ghz range assuming my memory is right, doubt I have doc's but I may, I installed in microwave comms yearssss (10's) ago. (Windstar). It is very complicated to understand what I can and cannot use handheld, mobile, repeater with all the web sites and videos. As an example: notarubicon says you can use many of them as long as you do not TX on them on non GMRS channels, basically. That clearly does not even start to get into the net it up to mygmrs, or DMR, LMR, P25, digital / analog combined devices. on an on and on. To bad MyGMRS site does not have a combined non forum non blog listing of examples of what is ok what is not ok. How to listen across oh which bands cover which traffic, even if a wiki redirect. Lots of fun for us newbies.

I have the one above and my MXT500 is a bit much for it in a New Tundra cup holder. In my truck it needs 4 screw out tighteners instead of three, but it is holding up.

Well a short follow up. RT97 5W. New max range from the fish bowl. I raised the Antena 5' to what should be 25'9" plus or minus some inches agl. I managed to still talk to it from 5 miles. 731' ground altitude at 5 miles, repeater 600', ground +25', plus trees and buildings, per google earth pro. So for a low power repeater in a fishbowl I would have to say it works pretty well. It is certainly impacted by other radios around the airport area and some areas on the north hill (extended over 6 blocks more). Too bad It was not the RT97s. Maybe a few more watts could have cut threw some of the interference, but I sure would not know if it works like that or not. My simple tests show a best case of +1 mile on a 5' increase in height. Mobile 50W, past test 15W and 50W on same mobile antenna no range change @ 4 miles, thus to me that was the repeater height primarily and likely some power limits too. So anyone wanting 5 miles, these little 5W repeaters are very capable. If you want 5 miles and public, sounds like the RT97s is the one you might be able to spit out a call sigh as most say you should or must. Who knows if it is better when on a hill, but I would bet it is. Such a simple device to deploy.

After a few notarubicon videos, these forums and many "experts" online. It seems it is very complicated to find anything that is not older than dirt in electronics time that covers the non-family repeater rules. Basically $1,500+ to cover repeater ID. Clearly Retevis RT97 does not comply RT97s does (5W). Used have fun finding programing software and output ranges, narrow or not wideband or not, any more variable Watt settings. And most seem to claim all duplexers must be tuned. Even ignoring groups if that works. Bridgecom looked good, but even found at mygrms.com some really bad problems. From what I can tell that leaves a lot of newer hardware in analog/digital functions that add more complications, can I or can't I use them. Yes starting at $1,800 on up. Vertex Standard 7000, that would be great, oh good luck finding it. Short term I hope the GR1225 I have coming will allow me to make it public, while I wait for Retevis 40W to see if it finally covers a little more power than 5W variable after duplexer and station ID.... This has been very painful to find a device that complies to the few rules in GMRS, yet hits only a couple main sticking points. Thus, why I wrote Midland, Bridgecom and Retevis. Clearly Private missing a little more power. Public monster $'s or effectively caveman hardware with hacker programing crud. Sad for a newby that knows nothing, except no simple to find reasonable solution.

May have missed it was me that posted part of an email reply. Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2022 9:23 PM Hello, We have plan to make 40W GMRS analog repeater, but the available date is not known yet, once we have update, will public to our SNS, you will see that. If this repeater you plan to use in which application scenario? Like farm, or factory, or ? Thanks! Thanks and Regards, Elsa Jin (Customer Manager) Web:www.retevis.com So based on what I was wrote, 40W is coming some time. No reference to any other product or timeline. Trying not to post too much, but they clearly wanted to know uses cases.

To be specific she said a 40w analog repeater, can't say when, but watch for it.

Hello wayoverthere, I must have missed the comment. I see what they said, I don't want something that might need fixed. I rather pay retail new and be mad if it is not good than to know it may not be good and pay more in time and cost. Oddly I wrote two MFG's Midland and Retevis and asked them why they don't offer higher power repeaters (later) or a repeater at all the (first) since they both target recreational people. I actually got a reply from both. Midland said they would pass it along. Retevis asked me for use cases, then told me to watch for web site updates as they have some items in the works. thanks for finding that, Royce

WRTZ750, thanks for the offer. I looked that FB page up, I did not see it, but I don't have FB account either. I will just order one. Late Jan 2023 before they will have any.

Years ago, I built one of those less the fishing gear. No large trees in my yard anymore. So I am out except what I can do here.

Thanks for the facts, as I have proved that with 5w handhelds. (1.3 miles max) It was wishful thinking on range. But I bet I can have a more stable continuous duty repeater that can handle more traffic than a Retevis RT97 (Simple and super easy to make work, does not broadcast ID). It is pretty simple no special features or functions like the Bridgecom. I have 2 handhelds @ 5W 4.79w, Mobile 15W and 50W. 6db midland antenna. I was wishful in the 15 - 50 watt, to 40watt (20w likely after duplexer) repeater to gain range verses 10W (5W) test box. Repeater antenna Opek UH-2401, 6.5dB gain. At this point it is for fun now to see my limits at my $$ willing to spend as altitude is a no go for me mostly. Great to see others knowledge!

No problem WRTZ750! And thanks for the knowledge you checked into, that is far out of my range of $ also. I will put in a continuous duty repeater from Bridgecom since I don't have the time to learn all the other buy this that and this "then program this that and this" to get some area coverage and I think I will just make it public at that point. Maybe later I'll work on seeing if our area can find someone or some place with some altitude and other hardware.

Repeater, even my tiny 5W one with 20-25' Antenna does extend range if you want end to end range. So, like my example a few pages back. My handhelds, 1.3 miles without. 2.6 apart with repeater, small town hills two sides. Then mobile to handheld 2 miles, bounce off the repeater 15w mobile 4 miles and handheld can be 1.3 opposite direction, about 5.3. The question is how far you want to talk to others you know or want on your repeater. I have not tested my 50W mobile except once, 4 miles to repeater in a valley, mobile on a hill behind trees and buildings. Seems like 5W repeater is limit out at 4 miles in a valley @ 20ish agl in town, 200' hill between them plus trees, per google earth pro. So in my case it is how far can I reach around the home to include people using handhelds. I still don't have alot of traffic, only 4 requests to test on my test repeater. I am no expert either. From my results, Sshannon sure is correct. I need more height. Next, I will test more power on a repeater since elevation is not a possible option except 4 - 5 feet, likely less then a mile gain.

I wish I could have 25' AGL on the hill north of me in my map I would get 100+ more altitude. But I can't today. I may get 4 - 5 ' on my mast and go from 5W to 40W on a repeater, that will be the best I can do for now. Interestingly I have had 4 peeps ask to test on my local test repeater already thanks to the mygmrs site. Can anyone point me to any data about setting up a local club, do's / don'ts is it as simple as paying here and I don't have to deal with taxes? Do I need to do other things I am completely new to this.?

Hello FernLeaf, I watched videos of two of those. Looks simple enough. However, I think I will buy the Bridgecom device. I have not read bad stuff about them except a few. I did test my 15 Watt 275 in my truck and could trigger the Retevis (5W) repeater from 3.8 miles flat area with trees. Up on the nearest hill North 2.3 miles. So power and elevation both seem to make a difference even in a valley. I'll have to see how far away my 50W MXT500 can still trigger the tiny repeater. I can make the mast a few feet higher also, just seeing how far I can cover around the house so if I let the kids roam they could still reach me without a cell phone. It is now for a little fun for me. Thank you!

Well I am glad to read all of this. Had I read this all first rather than all the web videos I may not have bought a mobile repeater. (Retevis 97) 5W real power, VSWR 1.00 - 1 and Opek 2401 "GMRS" only 25' max AGL, 30' cable run. All I gained was end to end distance meaning 5 watt handheld to moving 5 watt handheld, if in two vehicles simplex was a no go over 1 ish miles in town. repeater made it 2.6 end to end. I also gained 1.3 miles up a hill. Using google earth pro with as the bird flys and topo over map showing ground height point to point. I kind of learned this with my Midland mxt500 to a Midland mxt 105 5 watt mobile 5 miles max with hills no repeaters. After all my google earth pro messing around I learned that my valley, my friend's valley 30 miles away and the hills between made this undoable. So I am testing with the portable for local area, plan a $2K higher power repeater (40W) to expand that slightly from 2 to hopefully 5 miles excluding hills. Upside, I may take the mobile to friends farm area on a hill to help cover wider area as a fixed temp repeater with solar power. Google earth pro if used right will show you where you will fail if you are a newby. Clearly I cannot put up a tower high enough to talk to my friend, unless I find someone willing to put a repeater up at a specific area. Otherwise, I just wish to make a range for my kids. Royce